by Bob Martin | Oct 10, 2009 | Art, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Creativity, Exhibits, Galleries, sculptor
The best way to understand history is not through a backwards look through time reconstructing a narrative from tidbits of info.
William H. Johnson, Folk Family, ca. 1944, oil on plywood.
Novels, Paintings, Sculpture, Music and Dance created at the time, provides a better picture of what life was like, what people appreciated and the challenges they encountered. I think this can also be said about curating the work that is on display at the “White House”. As historians look back at this period, they will make note of the first African American President and First Lady and the distinctions between them and earlier occupants of the “White House”. In particular the selection of paintings, sculptures and performing artists who were featured, will say more about these times then most anything else.
One of Mrs. Obama’s selections, Johnson’s “Folk Family”, speaks to commonality, aspirations and accomplishment for the African in America over the last 100 years.
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by Sandy | Oct 7, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Books, Culture, Museums
An article by Fred Kaplan, “1959: Sex, Jazz, and Datsuns” featured in the June 8, 2009 of New York Magazine determines that 1959 was an important year for music, politics, world dynamics, social issues, and the arts. The 60’s might have gotten more press, but, 1959 was the year of change, innovation, out of the box thinking.
The magazine piece is based on Kaplan’s book, “1959: The Year Everything Changed”. He presents his examples of some of the greatest happenings of this special year and they include:
*Actor turned director John Cassavetes was perhaps the first “Indie” filmmaker with his partly improvised script for his movie “Shadows”.
*Completion of the Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, changed the NYC sky line on the upper East Side.
*The first micro chip introduced by Texas Instruments.
*The release of the Miles Davis album (they were albums then) “Kinda Blue” (considered by many to be best jazz recording ever).
*Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro invited to NYC and staying at the St Teresa Hotel in Harlem.
*The emergence of Malcolm X and his conversations on race and politics.
Where were you in 1959?
“1959: The Year Everything Changed”, by Fred Kaplan
by Sandy | Oct 4, 2009 | Art, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Books, Creativity, Culture
“30,000 YEARS OF ART- THE STORY OF HUMAN CREATIVITY ACROSS TIME AND SPACE” is a book that charts the history of art from 28,000 BC to the present day – 1,000 masterworks of art in chronological order.
“30,000 YEARS OF ART”
A really big book! = 1072 pages, Phaidon Press Inc
by Sandy | Oct 3, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Creativity, Film, Movies, music, Theater
The filmed version of the play, “Passing Strange”, is clever, funny, with great music. Spike Lee documented the last 3 days of the musical’s Broadway run (it won the 2008 Tony for Best Book) and it has now come to a theater near you.
I saw the play last year and loved it. The terrific band, whose members, along with the few actors, tell the story of a black young man, “Stew”, trying to look for the “real” by moving from middle class L.A, where he feels he doesn’t fit in and everything is a fraud, to Amsterdam and Germany.
In Europe, he is more “American”, than he was in California. To gain friends and acceptance in the avant garde scene, his new girl friend is only impressed with the oppressed, he “passes” as the stereotype of a ghetto youth and writes songs about the “struggle”. After doing this for a few years, he wonders what if the only thing real is your “art” and “reality” is phoney?
He eventually returns to America to pursue his art and just be himself. He is amazed that the direction of his life was decided by the decisions he made as a teenager.
Serious questions, but told with humor and music. Hard to describe, a different type of musical, but, very entertaining.
“Passing Strange”
Book and lyrics by Stew
Music by Stew and Heidi Roderwald
Directed by Spike Lee
by Sandy | Oct 1, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, dvd, Film, Museums, music
“Jazz Icons” are 8 and 9 DVD box sets. They contain a fabulous group of Jazz artists that have been captured on film. Some pieces are from television shows done in the 50’s and 60’s. Others are film clips from old jazz festivals, etc.
I don’t know if Jazz is considered “in” or “out” today? Perhaps it depends on who is writing about this lasting art form, but, regardless – if you like this music or are just curious, seeing/hearing these musicians in their glory days is priceless and fun:
John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Dave Brubeck and more.
by Sandy | Sep 17, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Culture
I love the holidays – the smells, sounds, food, the ribbons and boxes, all the glittery stuff. But, Christmas trees in Costco before Halloween – too soon. (At least last year they waited until October.)
I will flood family & friends with good wishes, good vibes, happy salutations, etc. I will urge all, by phone, email and cards, to be thankful and grateful for what we have. It is one of the many positives of our holiday season, but, “Jingles Bells” in Walmart in September is too soon.
The stomach rolling, dancing Santa and the wiggling mounted fish should only be seen in the dead of winter – not in Walgreens in September. It’s too soon.
Surely we can lift our spirits in other ways. We can smile, have positive thoughts, good will toward men and all that good stuff without listening to Burl Ives singing “Have a Jolly, Jolly Christmas” now. It is too soon.
Please, don’t get me wrong and consider this a complaint, this is just an observation. I love the holidays, but September is too soon!
